Driving so close...........

[Davidc]

The 3 posts above sum up much of what I see.

In particular using the Cyclecraft ideas (not to the letter) should always leave a self-created gap on the left which can be used when the occasional bad driver gets really close.

Interesting about the roadsters. I find the typical gap gets bigger if I'm carrying panniers, and if only one pannier the gap is bigger if that's the right hand pannier.

I find it really important to move well out when faced with the so-called refuges (islands in the middle of the road), where a larger proportion of drivers than normally get too close can't work out that they should slow down and follow bikes, and end up trying to squeeze past if there's any possibility at all of getting past. The only answer is to make passing impossible and make that clear some way before the pinch point.

It gets me hooted at sometimes, but that's easily ignored.

 

[bottombracket]

There was some research in the last few years about passing distance.

If I remember right...

The researcher rode

• wearing a helmet
• not wearing a helmet
• wearing a long blonde wig (looked like a female from behind)

He found that (on average) the helmet wearer got least space.

The female got most space.

So, yes, it appears to be psychological!

Some form of risk-assessment is going on in the mind of the driver - albeit skewed.

Why can't the driver of the car coming up behind you use a bit of anticipation and slow down so that he passes when the other car has already passed

There seems to be 'an entitlement to overtake a cyclist' in the minds of many drivers... no matter what!

 

[Rouge Penguin]

The road edges around here are terrible, so tend to ride in the left wheel track. As said, it makes the driver have to think about passing rather than squeezing between.

On the commute, there are two spots with small traffic islands which narrow the road(national limit too), it amazes me he twats that try to pass there. Always give the fingers or a wrap on the window if they're dangerously close.